I 467 



General Alexander Hays 



AT THE 



BATTIE OF GETTYSBURG. 



EXTRACTS FROM 



Life and Letters of Alexander 
Hays," 

BY GEORGE T. FLEMING, 



Under the Red Patch/ 

BY GILBERT ADAMS HAYS. 



PITTSBURGH, PA., 1913. 







GENERAL ALEXANDER HAYS. 

"He dared to lead where ojhers dared to follow." 






IMILITAJJY RECORD GENERA f. ALEXANDER PIAYS. 

Boni l^^ranklin, P;i.. -Inly D, ISI!). 

(lUADirVTE IfNlTKl) StATKS ^MilITAUV AcADKMV, WeST PoINT, 

.July 1, 1844. 
COMMISSIONS: 

I^revct S(hm.ih1 I ,iciil(Mi;iiii 41 h I'liilcd Stiitcs TiiFaiitiy, 
July 1, 1844. 

Second Lieuli'iiaiil 8lli riiitcd States rnfantry, June 
18, 1846. 

Brevet First Jii(nit('iiaiit 8th liuited States Infantry, 
]\lay 9, 1846, ''for gallant and distiny;nish('d serviees in 
the battles of Palo Alto and Resaeea de la Paliiia," 
Wonnded at Resaeea de la Palma. Participati-d in seven- 
teen engagements in the Mexican War. 

Resigned Ai)ril 12, 1848. 

JMajor 12th Regiiiieiit Peiinsyh-ania \M)lunteers, April 
25.1861. 

Ca)>taiti T;th Piiited States Infantry, IMay 14, 1861. 
Colonel (i;]|-d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, August 
25, 1861. 

Brevet I\Ia.j()r, United States Army, June 30, 1862, "for 
gallant and meritorous services at the Battle of Fair Oaks, 
Peaeh Orchard and (ilendale, Va." 

Brevet C'olonel United States Army, July 1, 1862, "for 
gallant and meritorious services at Malvern Hill, Va." 

Severely wounded at Second Bull Run, Va., August 
30, 1862. 

Brigadier General Uiiited States Volunteers, September 
29, 1862. 

Brevet Lieut. Col. I'nited States Army, July 2, 1863, 
"for gallant and mei-itorous services at the Battle of 
Gettysburg, Pa." 

Brevet iMajor General United States Volunteers, IMay 
5, 1864, "for gallant and distinguished conduct at the 
battles of the Peninsula, Gettysburg and the AVilderness." 

Participated in sixteen battles of the Civil War. 

Killed at the Battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864, 
aged 45 vears. 



THIRD DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS AT 
GETTYSBURG. 

Coininaiulrd l)y Buigadiek General Alexander Hays. 

First Brigade — Colonel Saiiiucl S. Carroll, 
lltli Iiuliana, Colonel John Coons. 
•Itli Ohio, Lient. Colonel Leonard W. Carpenter. 
8th Ohio, Lieut. Colonel Franklin Sawyer. 
7th West ViriJ'inia, Colonel Jonathan II. Loekwood. 

Second Brigade — Colonel Thomas A. Smyth, wounded; Lieut. 

Col. Francis E. Pierce, 
lith Connecticut, ]\Iajor Theodore G. Ellis. 
1st Delawar-, Lieut. Col. John P. Harris, Capt. Thomas 

B. Hizar, wounded; Lieut. AVilliam Smith, killed; 

Lieut. John T. Dent. 
12th New Jers(^y, IMajor John T. Hill. 
10th New York (battalion). Major George P. Hopper. 
108th New York, Lieut. Col. Francis E. Pierce. 

Third Brigade — Col. George L. Willard, killed; Col. Eliakim 

Sherrill, killed ; Lieut. Col. James M. Bull. 
39th New York (4 companies), Major Hugo Hildebrandt, 

wounded, 
lllth New York, Col. Clinton D. ]\IacDougaI, wounded; 

Lieut. Col. Isaac M. Lusk, Capt. Aaron P. Seeley. 
125th New York, Lieut. Col. Levin Crandell. 
126th New York, Col. Eliakim Sherrill, Lieut. Col. James 

M. Bull. 

Artillery BRiGADE^Cai)t. John G. Hazard. 

B— 1st New York' (14th N. Y. Battery attached), Lieut. 

Albert S. Sheldon, wounded; Capt. James McKay 

Rorty, killed; Lieut. Robert E. Rogers. 
A— 1st Rhode Island, Capt. William B. Arnold. 
B — 1st Rhode Island, Lieut. T. Fred Brown, wounded; 

Lieut. AValter S. Perrine. 
I — 1st United States, Lieut. George A. Woodruff, mortally 

wounded ; Lieut. Cully ]\IcCrea. 
A — 4th United States, Lieut. Alonzo H. Gushing, killed; 

Sergt. Frederick Fuger. 



OFFICIAL KKFOirr. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

I>ri(;adier Gexeral Aekxaxder IIavs. 

IIc;i(l(juai'U'r.s Third Division, 2d Army Corps, 
July 12th, 1863. 
Lieut. Col. C. II. ^Iorgan, 

Chief of:" Staff. 
Sir: 

I have the honor to r('[)ort. through yon. the part taken by 
this Division, in the late battle of Gettysburg. 

On the 2d day of July, the Division moving on the Taney- 
town road, arrived Avithin about one mile of the town, where it 
was assigned a position on a ridge, nearly parallel with the road, 
facing eastward, a stone wall just below the crest of the hill gave 
much strength to the position, and an open space of half a mile on 
our front, afforded tht^ artillery posted on the riglit and left 
Hanks, a fair field for effective service. 

A strong line of skirmishers Avas thrown forward to our 
front, and during the day contended successfully with the enemy. 

Twice, at least, soldiers were sent from our position by the 
12th New Jersey, 1st Delaware and 14th Connecticut Regiments, 
against a barn and house,* one fourth of a mile in advance of 
our position, returning in each case successfully with prisoners. 

Colonel Willard, of the 125th New York Volunteers, com- 
manding the 3d Brigade, was early in the day withdrawn from 
the Division by the ]\Ia,jor General commanding and took a prom- 
inent part in the engagement on our left. 

The history of the Brigade's operations is written in blood. 
Colonel AVillard was killed, and next day, after the Brigade had 
rejoined the Division, his successor. Colonel Eliakim Sherrill, 
126th New York Volunteers, also fell. Colonel Dougald ]\IcDoug- 
all, 111th New York Volunteers and ]\Iajor Hugo Hildebrandt, 
39th New York Volunteers, were each severely Avounded, leaving 
the Brigade in command of a Lieutenant Colon el. t 

The loss of this J^rigade amounted to one-half of the casual- 
ties in the Division. 

The operations of the First Brigade, commanded by Colonel 
S. S. Carroll, are fully set forth in his own accompanying report. 
Too much credit cannot be given him and his command, for the 

* The Bliss Builcings. jiJames M. Bull, 126th New York. 

5 



gallant luaniu'r in which they went to the relief of the troops on 
our right. The darkness of night was no obstacle and I have no 
doubt, their timely arrival and merits will be acknowledged by the 
General commanding in that part of the field. t 

The Second Brigade, Colonel Thomas A. Smyth, ]st Dela- 
ware, remained continuously in protection of our front, along 
the stone wall, and in support of our line of skirmishers. 

Throughout the 2d the enemy kept up a desultory fire from 
their artillery, posted in the skirts of the distant timber, fre- 
quently shifting their batteries and opening suddenly on our 
lines, but were silenced or driven off by the effective fire of our 
artillery. 

The ensuing night passed ni comparative quietness, our men 
resting on their arms: the daylight of the 3rd was a signal for 
renewed hostilities and during the forenoon was a repetion of 
the practice of the proceeding day, except that their skirmishers 
appeared more pretentious in their assault. About 11 o'clock A. 
M., an entire lull occurred, which was continued until nearly 
two o'clock P. ]M. 

Anticipating the movement of the enemy, I caused the 
house # and barn on .our front, which interrupted the fire of our 
artillery, to be burned. At the hour last named, they opened 
upon our front, the most terrific and uninterrupted fire came 
from their artillery. I cannot believe there w^as less than eighty 
pieces bearing on us, within good range. 

It w^as continued, uninterrupted until half past four o'clock 
P. M., when a heavy column of the enemy formed in three lines, 
preceded by a strong line of skirmishers, debouched from the 
wood opposite our lines. 

Their inarch was as steady as if impelled by machinery, 
unbroken by our artillery, which played upon them a storm of 
missiles. When within a huiulred yards of our line of infantry, 
the fire of our men could be no longer restrained, our lines arose 
from behind the stone wall and before the smoke of our first 
volley had cleared away, the enemy in dismay and consternation, 
were risking safety in tlight; many attempts to rally them by 
their officers were vain. In less time than I can count, they were 
throwing away their arms and appealing most piteously for 
mercy. 



t Geueral Howard. jf Bliss Buildings. 

6 




-^ I V 



General Alexander Havs ' Headquarters Flag, carried at Gettysburg, 
Blue Tre-Poil on White Ground. In possession of the Hays Family. 



The angel of death ahme can prodnee siieh a fiekl as was 
presented. The Division captured and turned into Corps Head- 
quarters, fifteen battle flags, or banners, a number of other 
flag's were captured, but have been surreptitiously disposed of 
in the subsequent excitement of battle before they could be 
collected. 

I transmit the report of Lieut. W. E. Potter, showing a 
collection by him of 2,500 stands of arms, besides an estimate of 
1,000 left on the field for want of time to collect them. From my 
own personal examination of the field, I am satisfied the number 
estimated is not too great. 

Of the prisoners which fell into our hands I regret that an 
accurate account could not be kept, but by estimate, they cannot 
be less than 1,500. Colonel Smyth, commanding Second Brigade, 
was severely wounded in the head and face by a shell, which 
did not, however, prevent him from returning to duty the 
next day. 

I commend to the notice of the General connuanding and the 
War Department, the gallant conduct of my commanders, of 
Brigades and Regiments, trusting that they, in turn, will not be 
forgetful of meritorious subordinates. 

Where all behaved exceptionally, it is difficult to discrim- 
inate. The coolness and determination evinced by our officers 
and men, which reflect back credit on their former commander. 

I cannot omit the high recommendation of credit which is 
due Dr. Isaac Scott, Medical Director of the Division, and all 
his assistants. No case of neglect or evasion of their duties has 
come to my notice. 

Lieutenant Sullivan (John S.), in charge of Ambulance 
Corps, deserves the higliest credit for his courage and the fear- 
less manner he discharged his duties, continually under the fire 
of the enemy's skirmishers, bringing oft' the wounded and assist- 
ing in keeping up the stragglers. 

Lieutenant W\ E. Potter, Ordnance Officer, was indefa- 
tigable in the discharge of his duties. 

Captain George P. Corts, Assistant Adjutant General, and 
juy Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant David Shields, 63d Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, were constantly by my side, exhibiting as always 
heretofore, self possession and courage of the highest order. 
Captain Corts lost two horses killed and Lieutenant Shields one. 



Division Quartcnuasti'i-, ('aptain J.udinoton and Commis- 
sary Officer. Captain (^)iu'en. dis(;harged their duties to my entire 
satisfaction and deserve the notice of their respective depart- 
ments. 

Second Lieutenant, E. J. Huston, lllth New York Volun- 
teers, attracted my attention by his exemplary conduct in charge 
of posting and encouraging our pickets, as a present recognition, 
I have appointed him an aide on my staff. 

By accompanying report, the entire loss of the Division in 
the two days' action, will he seen to be 1285 men killed, wounded 
and missing. 

I am very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

(Signed) ALEX. HAYS, 
Brigadier General of Volunteers 



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11 



AS 0TPIER8 SAW IILM. 

"Oil the third day of the Batth^ of Gettysburg, General Hays, 
eominanding the Third Division of the Seeond Army Corps, 
finds himself opposed to General Pickett and others of General 
Hays' classmates at West Point, and comrades of the ^Mexican 
AA^ar, who had been cannonading the opposing lines for some 
time, without effect, then moves his troops across the field, think- 
ing, no doubt, that his veterans will drive these raw militia like 
chaff before the wind. ]jut they meet General Hays and his vet- 
erans ; he has jnit fight into them, lie restrains himself and his 
men until the enemy is at close quarters. Then the word is 
'■'Up and at them.'' His rapid, well directed firing sent the 
colunui reeling in confusion back upon its rear and center. A 
hurricane, charged with lead and fire and death, consumes them. 

The battle was won. This was the decisive charge, and 
General Hays was a hero among the heroes of Gettysburg. He 
takes from the enemy that day, twenty-one regimental banners 
or battl(> flags, three thousand stands of arms, and captures about 
twice the number of liis command. Out of sixteen mounted order- 
lies he has but two left. He has lost all of his Colonels; Lieuten- 
ant Colonels conniiand Brigades; Lieutenants command Regi- 
ments. Two of his horses are killed under him; his entire staff 
is unhorsed. Their steeds lie dead where they fell, or are in 
their last agonies." 

Colonel S. D. Oliphant, 
8th I'ennsylvania Reserves. 

A correspondent of a Buffalo newspaper, himself a soldier, 
and who was upon that fatal hill when the battle was at its 
height, beholding the deeds of valor of this brave leader and his 
fearlessness Avhen the very air seemed freighted with danger, 
thus described him : 

"I wish you coold have seen the picture, just at the close of 
last Friday's battle, on the left of our center, of which his 
splendid figure formed a prominent part. Our little brigade, 
which had been lying on Cemetery Hill, was ordered over to the 
position that was so valiantly, but unsuccessfully charged by 
Pettigrew's Rebel Division. We hurried there through a storm 

12 



of sliot and shell, l)ut (inly arrived in lime to see the grand 
linale, the tahleau vivants, and, alas, uiorants, at the close of the 
<lraina. The enemy's hatteries wei-e still playing briskly, and 
their sharjishooters kejit up a lixely tii-e, l)ut their infantry. 
slain and wounded and routed, were pouring, prisoners, into our 
lines throughout their whole extent. 

"Then enter Alexander Hays, Brigadier General United 
States Army, the brave American soldier. Six feet or more in 
height, erect and smiling, lightly holding in hand his horse — 
the third -within an hour, a noble animal, his flanks be-spattered 
with blood, he seized a captured rebel flag, handing one to each 
of his aides, David Shields and George P. Corts, all three dash- 
ing along in front of our Division line, trailing ignominiously 
in the dust the enemy's flags, now rushing out in the opim field, 
a mark for a hundred sharpshooters, but never touched, now 
quietly cantering back to our lines to be welcomed with a storm 
of cheers. I reckon him the grandest view of my life. I bar 
not Niagara. It was the arch spirit of glorious victory triumph- 
ing wildly over the fallen foe. 

"The night after, I met General Hays again. After the fight 
of Friday afternoon, we held the battlefield, our skirmishers 
forming a line on the outer edge of it. The field was strewn 
with Rebel wounded. It was impossible for us to bring them 
in Friday night ; every apology for a hospital being crowded, 
(»ur own wounded, in many cases lying out all night. But on 
Saturday morning, bandsmen were sent out with litters to bring 
in the poor fellows, and were fired upon so briskly liy the Rebel 
sharpshooters that it was impossible to help them. Stories 
similar to this I had often heard, but never believed, but this 
came under my own observation. So all day Saturday the poor 
fellows lay there, praying for death. When night fell, another 
officer of my regimen.t and myself got a few volunteers to go with 
us. thinking there might be some who could creep into our lines, 
supported on either side, by one of us. IMay God preserve me 
from such a position again! AVe could do almost nothing. Of 
a thousand wounded men we found one whom four of us could 
carry into our lines in a blanket. Other poor souls would think 
they could accomplish it, but at the slightest change of position, 
would fall back screaming in awful agony. Litters we had none. 
Then appeared General Hays in another light, less of the 

13 



1)ravad() perhaps, not less of the hero. He sent out two compan- 
ies, who cleared the rebel sharpshooters from a position they 
held in a mined building, busied himself in procuring litters and 
bearers, and before morning many of the poor fellows were 
safe within our lines. It is not my good fortune to be personally 
acquainted with this General Alexander Hays, but I wish every- 
one, as far as I can effect it, to honor him as the bravest of 
soldiers, and love him as the best hearted of men. A true chev- 
alier he nuist be, sans peur et sans reproche. It seems mirac- 
ulous that General Hays escaped unharmed." 



The character of General liays was manifested in the 
letter acknowledging the receipt of a magnificent sword, pre- 
sented him by the citizens of Pittsburgh, a few months after the 
Battle of Gettysburg, in which he says: "When the rebellion 
broke upon us like a tornado, in the desecration of our flag at 
Sumter. I took oath never to sheath my sword until honorable 
peace should restore us to one glorious Union." 



General Walker, in his "History of the Second Army 
Corps," thus speaks of General Hays at Gettysburg: 

"Here was to be seen the new division commander. General 
xMexander Hays, with his staff and his flag following him, 
dashing along the skirmish line, inciting his men to renewed 
activity, in the eye of both armies. Such demonstrations whieh^ 
with General Hays, were of frequent occurrence, Avere likely to 
give the impression that he was a mere hot headed fighter ; 
whereas, in fact, his extraordinary Auvacity in battle was united 
with a soundness of judgment and firmness of temper which 
made him one of the most useful officers in the service." 



14 







o 



Of the Confederate battle flags captured. General Hancock's 
Official Ki'port of the liattle of Gettysburg, is quoted: 

''There \\ere nndouljtedlv thirty-three colors captured." 

Of these General .Mexander Hays' coirnnand, the Third 
Division of the Second Army Corps, captured twenty-one. 

In the history of the 12Gth New Yorlc Regiment, "Disaster, 
Struggle and Triumph," this incident is described: 

"At Gettysburg when Longstreet 's memorable charge of 
the 3rd of July had been repelled, and the twelve regiments of 
Hays' Division had captured 2600 prisoners and 21 stands of 
colors, General Hays took a rebel l^ag, and two of his staff. Capt. 
George P. Corts, Assistant Adjutant General, and Lieut. David 
Shields, each with a captured flag, rode down in front of his 
corainand and in the rear, trailing the rebel colors in the dust, 
and, amid deafening shouts and cheers of the men, who for a 
moment forgot the terrible scenes and thought only of the glory 
of their victory." 

The burning of the Bliss barn is thus mentioned in the 
official report of Col. Thomas A. Smyth. 1st Delaware Volunteers, 
commanding the Second Brigade of the Second Corps : 

"Artillery firing from both sides began at 4 A. ^I. on the 
morning of the 3rd. the hi^avii'st firing being on our right. 
Skirmishing with artillery and infantry continued all along the 
line untd 10:80 A. M., when the lull ensued, which lasted up to 
2 P. ^I. The barn and house near it being re-occupied by the 
enemy's sharpshooters, an order was received from General 
Alexander Hays, commanding the Division, to take the house 
and barn at all hazards and hold it. The 14th Connecticut were 
detailed on this service, which it gallantly performed. Soon 
after, an order came from General Hays to burn the house and 
barn and they were accordingly fired." 

How this firing was accomplished is told by General Clinton 
D. ^lacDougal, Colonel of the 111th New York Volunteers, who 
was in command of the Third Brigade during the fight, until 
wounded : 

16 



"T.ikc tlu' iiicifU'iit ol:' the l)uniiiiLC of tlic P)liss hnrn. As 
soon as General Hays discovered that it was occupied by the 
enemy's sharpshoot'Ts. he asked ine if I had a man in my com- 
ninnd. who woidd N'oluntcei" to y'o down ;iiid fir,' tliat I)Mi'n. Tlu' 
troops were lying down at the time. I stei)ped in fi'ont of my 
I'cg'iment (the lllth New York), and asked 'who will go down 
and tire that l)arn:' Fully half a dozen hands went up. Sergt. 
Charles A. Hitchcock, of Company G, having raised the first 
hand. I designated him, giving him a box of matches and a lot of 
newspapers. He started on the double(|uiek. taking a zigzag 
course on beyond our skirmishers until he reached the barn, 
as soon as he passed beyond the skirmishers he was loudly 
cheered. \Vith his bunch of papers he tired the bam in one 
corner, under which he found some hay. On his return he was 
Avounded in the arm. He was promot(^d to a Lieutenancy upon 
the recommendation of General Hays for this gallant act, and 
was the father of Raymond Hitchcock, the actor. Upon report- 
ing to General Hays the success of his mission, he handed the 
General a bunch of flowers picked u]) at the barn upon leaving 
it, these flowers, carefully prt^served, b 'ing now in possession of 
the Hays family." 

Of this Hower, General Hays, in a letter written to his 
daughter just after the fight, says: 

"The flower I stnt to Grandma came from the garden of the 
iield of Gettysburg, from the house where our pickets fought so 
wickedly, and which I afterward caused to be burned. It was 
given me by the Sergeant (Charles Hitchcock) who volunteered 
to go forward amidst a shower of balls to burn the house. He 
fulfilled his mission and returned severely wounded." 

Another act of General Hays on the opening of the third 
day's fight is vouched for. not only by many prominent officers 
of the Union Army, as well as by Confederate. General ]\Iac- 
Dougal thus describes it : 

"On the arriA-al at Gettysburg on the morning of the 2nd, 
the usual skirmisli lines were thrown out. I can never forget 
the first act of superb gallantry I noticed in General Hays. 
The line of skirmishers on our right was hard pressed and gave 
way. In an instant General Hays rode down at a gallop 
mounted on his big bay 'Dan,' with an orderly carrying his 

17 



Division Flag, followed by his other orderlies.* The line was 
at once re-estahlished and never liroken again. It was the first 
and only time I ever saw a Division Commander with his staff 
on the skirmish line, where they were targets for hundreds of 
shar])shooters." 



THE GENEKAL'S LETTERS HOME. 
On the Battlefield. 

Near Gettysburg, Pa., July 4th, 1863. 
Yesterday was a warm one for us. The fight of my Division 
was a perfect success. Corts, Shields and rnyself were untouched. 
*'Dan"t was killed, and "Leet" severely wounded. Corts and 
Shields each lost a horse. 

We are all sanguine of ridding our soil of the invaders. 



You have heard so much of Gettysburg, that as myself, you 
desire to hear no more. Only that providence protected us, I 
cannot account for our escape. AVomen may lecture on "The 
Horrors of War, ' ' but such a scene of carnage I never imagined. 
Carnage, himself (if an artist), could not paint the picture. 
Dead horses, shattered carriages, dead and dying men, in all 
the last agonies of death, for two full hours, would have para- 
lyzed any one, not trained to the "butcher trade." I was fight- 
ing for my native state and before I went in, thought of those 
at home I so dearly love. If Gettysburg was lost, all was lost 
for them, and I only interposed a life that would be otherwise 
worthless. But if we suffered, the poor Rebels suffered terribly, 
ten fold. 

The night following the battle of the Third, I rode out and 
over the battlefield at two o'clock A. M. I could scarcely find 
passage for my liorse, for the dead and wounded. In one road 
it was impassable, until I had them removed. The shrieks of 
anguish and prayers for relief were heart rending. 

I only feel that this is a trial, not a judgment, upon our 
nation, and that we will come out of it as "refined gold" and that 
my children will be enabled to sing "Columbia, Columbia, to 
glory arise, the Queen of the world, and the child of the skies." 



* Corporal Carrol, 5th New York Cavalry, carried the flag, the two 
Orderlies being Privates Jonas Thornton and William Petemian, of the 
Jst Ohio Cavalry, all three receiving commissions through General Hays 
for this gallant act. t "Dan" and "Leet" were liis horses. 

18 



Taiicytown, .Maryhiiid, July 7th, 18G3. 
I have written sevenil limes since the eventfnl third, to 
assure you that all was well with us. I mean Corts, Shields and 
myself. Our tight with the Rebels on the 3rd was most territie. 

I commanded the Third Division of the Second Army Corps. 
Opposed to me were A. P. Hill and George E. Pickett, besides 
several others of my old acquaintances. 

They thought they were attacking raw militia. After can- 
nonading us for an hour, they advanced across the plain and 
were met from behind our stone wall by a volley which swept 
them like a tornado. It will not be credited, but we (I mean the 
Third Division), took double our own number of prisoners, 
killed twice our own numbers and took nearly 3,000 stands of 
arms. It is called the decisive battle of Gettysburg. 

I am untouched, as are also Corts and Shields, which is 
miraculous, although we all lost our horses. "Dave Shields had 
the shoulder of his coat blown off by a shell." "Dan" was 
killed by a cannon ball through the heart, just after I had 
exchanged him for "Leet." "Leet" was shot severely in the 
breast, three balls. One has been extracted and will be sent 
to Leet Shields. Out of twt'uty mounted orderlies, I have but 
five or six left. 

Of your acquaintances, I have lost all my Colonels, Lieut- 
enant Colonels commanding Brigades, and Lieutenants com- 
manding regiments. 

The battle cannot be described, except as the most terrible 
fought between men. 

My Division has taken twenty banners or battle tlags, more 
than all the balance of the army and the Third Division is at 
a high premium. 



Near "Jones Cross Roads," Maryland. 

July 13th, 1863. 
"The Cross Roads" are six miles and equi-distant from 
Hagerstown, AVilliamsport and Boones. 

My Division is formed along the heights near the Hagers- 
town road. It forms one of the links of the Anaconda which 
holds Lee 's Army in its coils. 

19 



AVhen [ took coininand of it. tlu^ Third Division, only two 
weeks ago, it was considered large. Since then, however, it has 
become more respectable, although its numbers have diminished. 
In the Battle of Gettysburg I lost 1,262 men. AYe, however, can 
count live of the enemy to one of ours. The killed of the enemy 
alone outiunnbers my whole Division two to one. The arms we 
captured will give us three guns to each man. Our prisoners 
also, outnumber us two to one. I have sent forward to Headquar- 
ters, seventeen (17) of the enemy's standards and know of at 
least five others which were surreptitiously disposed of. Such a 
capture of Hags was never known before. 

The Second Corps .justly claim the honor of the repulse 
of the enemy, and it is conceded that the Third Division 
(Hays') Second Army (Jorps, fought the decisive action — • 
killed, \^'ounded, prisoners and banners, speak convincingly of 
our claims. I have written of the loss of my horse. Noble old 
"Dan" died a soldier's death. A solid shot passed through his 
heart just after I had dismounted from him and he died without 
a struggle. He lies in an honored grave, dug by Henry and the 
other servants. "licet" was soon afterwards shot in the breast 
with three balls and totally disabled. ]\[y third horse was one of 
''Uncle Sam's" and of little account. Corts' horse, as well as 
Shields' was killed. I had about fifteen mounted orderlies when 
the battle began, at the end only two. One of them lost his 
horse and the other — my Standard Bearer — had his flag staff 
cut in two. The shoulder of Shields' coat was blown away. 
Corts had his knuckles skinned. I escaped totally unscathed, 
although all expected to see me go under. Once in the forenoon 
my pickets (The Garilialdi Guards), who were posted near a 
liarn, half a mile from my front, were repulsed by the rebel 
sharpshooters and retreated in disorder. 

"Dan" was then living and on him I dashed over the plain, 
followed by my standard bearer (who is a reckless, devil-may- 
care Irishman),! We rallied the runaways, put them in position 
again, retaking the barn. This was in full view of both lines 
and fair range of the enemy's bullets. Our line held their 
breaths in surprise and I have since been told by several Generals, 
that they expected to see me blown up each minute. The enemy 
appeared to have been surprised, for not a gun of theirs opened 



t Corpoi'al Carroll. 

20 



■mill my missi,,,, 1k„I luvn ruHill,,! .-iihI I h;,,] ncjirly ivncli..,! cur 
linos, when all the rebel batteries opened np,,,, ,„<■ ,•,,,. I shonvred 
shot and shell around. Just as I entered onr lines, Colon..! 
'Dick" Coulter eaiue to oon^n-atulate me, when a sliell stniek 
a tree between ns, glanced off and killed several of our uwn 
who had been drawn from behind their dc'l'enses from curiosity. 
iMready there is shown a disposition to rob me of my rigli't 
I'Ht i1 can't be done. You have heard that all the Colonels of 
my old Brigade weiv lost, tw.. killed an<l two srverdv wound..! " 



21 



TRIBUTES OF FELLOW OFFICERS. 

"One of our excellent comnianders, General Alexander Ilays, 
was killed. I had been with him at West Point and had served 
with him in the same regiment in the Mexican War. He was a 
most gallant oiheer, ready to lead his connnand wherever ordered. 
With him it was "Come, boys, not Go ! " 

General LI. S. Grant, "Personal I\remoirs." 



''General Alexander Hays, that dauntless soldier, whose 
intre])id and eliih-alrie bearing on so many battle fields, had won 
for him the highest renown, was killed at the head of his 
command." 

General Wintield S. ILmeoek 



Tlie losses had been heavy. Among the killed that after- 
noon was General Alexander Hays. At Gettysburg, at Bristoe, 
at Aline Ran, at Morton's Ford, this devoted officer rode, his 
staff and his flag behind him, a mark for a thousand riflemen, the 
admiration of the two armies, only to fall in a tangled wilder- 
ness, where scarce a regiment could note his person and derive 
inspiration from his courage and martial enthusiasm. 

General Francis A. Walker, 
"History of the Second Army Corps." 



"Hays himself (a classmate of Hancock, l)oth being in the 
class after Grant), during a lull rode down the line of battle 
with his staff and when he reached his old regiemnt, the 63rd 
Pennsylvania, he stopped. While he was speaking a kindly 
word, a bulhH struck him just below the cord of his hat, crashing 
into his braiii ; he fell from his horse and died within a few 
hours and a braver spirit never rose from any field." 

Colonel Morris Schaff, 
"Battle of the AVilderness. " 



"Among our losses is General Alexander Hays, of Pitts- 
burgh, Avho was killed. For a time Hays' Brigade bore the brunt 
of the rebel attack. Hays asked for reinforcements. Hancock 



22 



replied, 'T will send ;i I>i'i<i-;i(l(' in luciily iiiimilcs. 'I'dl TIays 
to hold liis <ii"()Uiid. He can do it. 1 know him to be a [)o\verful 
man.' lie did hohl it, but it cost him his life." 



Special in New York Tribune. 
"The liji.'htiiii'' had beeouie exceedingly severe on that part 
of the field. General Alexander Hays, one of the most gallant 
officers in the service, coiiimanding one of Hancock's Brigades, 
iinding that his line had been broken, rushed forward to reorgan- 
ize his troo])s and was instantly killed. * * * After remain- 
ing some time with Hancock's men, I returned to headquarters 
to report the situation to the General-in-Chief and carry to him 
the sad intelligence of Hays' death. General Grant was by no 
means a demonstrative man, but upon learning the intelligence 
1 brought, he was visibly affected. He was seated upon the 
ground with his back against a tree, still whittling pine sticks. 
He sat for a time without uttering a word, and then, speaking 
in a low voice and pausing between the sentences, said, Hays 
and I were cadets together for three years. We served for a 
time in the same regiment in the JMexican War. He was a nobl(3 
man and a gallant ol'fieer. I am not surprised that he met his 
death at the head of his troops; it was just like him. He was a 
man who would never follow, but would always lead in battle." 

General Horace Porter, 
''Campaigning with Grant." 



What more fitting tribute could be paid the memory of 
General Hays than that in the formal official report of his 
death: ''The fighting became very fierce at once, the lines of 
battle being so very close. The musketry continuous and deadly 
along the whole line. General Alexander Ha^^s, an officer of 
distinguished gallantry, was killed at the head of his command." 



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